This month residents will have the opportunity to put themselves forward for positions on local town and city councils, elementary school boards, the Acalanes Union High School District board and the Moraga-Orinda Fire District. The general election will be held on Nov. 3. 

    The nomination period opens on July 13 and will close on Aug. 7, with the exception that if an incumbent whose term is expiring does not file for reelection, the filing period for non-incumbents will be extended to Aug. 12.

    The following incumbents have terms expiring this year. In Orinda, Mayor Brandyn Iverson, and council members Latika Malkani and Janet Riley and on the Orinda Union School District board, President Katie Shogan and board members, Edda Collins Coleman and Eve Phillips.

    In Lafayette, the terms of council members Susan Candell, Jim Cervantes and Stella Wotherspoon expire at the end of the year, and on the Lafayette School District board, President Katy Foreman and board members Rob Strum and Dave Smith have terms expiring this year.

    In Moraga, Mayor Kerry Hillis and Council Member Steve Woehleke have terms expiring at the end of the year, and on the Moraga School District board, President Larry Jacobs and board members Kristin Kraetsch and Martha White will end their current terms this year.

    The Acalanes Union High School District (AUHSD) is transitioning to a "by-trustee area" election system for the November 2026 election. Instead of at-large voting, the district is divided into five areas, and voters will only cast ballots for candidates residing in their specific trustee area. 

    Three of the five governing board seats will be on the November ballot, representing Trustee Areas 1, 3, and 5. Board members Jennifer Chen, Nancy Kendzierski, and Stacey Schweppe hold seats that are up for reelection. Trustee Areas 2 and 4 will shift to by-trustee voting in the November 2028 election.

    For detailed maps of the new trustee areas or to check which area you reside in, refer to https://www.acalanes.k12.ca.us/about-auhsd/governing-board/transition-to-by-trustee-area-election-system page or check your registration status via on the Contra Costa County Elections website, https://www.contracostavote.gov.

    The terms of three of the five directors of the Moraga-Orinda Fire District expire in November 2026. Greg Hasler, District 1, Mike Roemer District 4, and Vice President Steven Danziger, District 3 are the incumbents whose terms are expiring this year.

    The Country Costa County Elections Division administers candidate filing for MOFD and other local agencies. Specific information on how to Run for Office and a comprehensive Candidates Guide provide details on filing requirements, qualifications, deadlines, fees, and more.  Candidates must complete a Candidate Application Packet during the candidate filing period. The filing period is only 25 days, starting 113 days before the election on July 13, and ending 88 days before the election on Aug. 7.  This information can be found at https://www.contracostavote.gov/elections/candidates-campaigns-measures/run-for-office/.